Massa wins midterm vote in BA province

With 96.13 percent of the polling stations counted in the key province of Buenos Aires, Renewal Front candidate and opposition leader Sergio Massa comfortably won the election with 43.92 percent of the votes, 12 points over rival Martín Insaurralde, President Fernandez's star candidate, who obtained 32.18% percent.

According to the first official results released by Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo in a press briefing, the Civic and Social Progressive Front was in third place with 11.80% percent of the votes.

Argentines voted to renew half of the Lower House of Congress and a third of the Senate.

Earlier, Randazzo said elections took place “with normality” across Argentina. Only one incident was registered in the Buenos Aires locality of Merlo where the Victory Front reported that Renewal Front polling station authorities “took out and destroyed” ballot papers. They were later detained by the police.

These elections were marked by the absence of the Fernández de Kirchner who underwent a brain surgery earlier in October. As she was recommended strict rest by doctors, Vice President Amado Boudou replaced her during the electoral campaign.